Picks and Pans Review: Love's Melodies

Quick, name the second most successful band to come out of Liverpool in the early '60s. Hint: Their biggest hits were Needles and Pins and Sweets for My Sweet. That the glare of the Beatles' success dimmed their own does not detract from the considerable talents of the Searchers. Nor did it extinguish their ambition. Having muddled through a few non-fab years, they have bounced back with an '80s version of Merseybeat—a frothy, melodious pop sound characteristic of the Beatles VILP. This is the second American release of the last year in the Searchers' comeback and includes band originals Frank Allen (bass), John McNally (lead guitar) and Mike Pender (guitar, lead vocals) plus newcomer Billy Adamson (drums). There is a certain predictability to their work. But theirs is a very preppy sound, with well-groomed harmonies, zippy drum rolls and spiffy guitar leads.